Skin-protective Properties Research Articles

Exploring the antioxidant potentiality of two food by-products into a topical cream: stability, in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Context: Coffee silverskin (CS), a food by-product of the coffee roasting industry, has been studied as an active ingredient for skin care products due to its high potential of antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity. Another food waste used as ingredient with promising characteristics is obtained from Medicago sativa (MS), which antioxidants and isoflavones content is high.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate and characterize a new body formulation containing two food by-products extracts.Materials and methods: Different parameters (such as pH, rheological behavior, color, antioxidant content and microbiological analysis) of a body cream formulation containing by-products (CSMS) and a formulation without extracts (F) were evaluated under a stability study during 180 days at different temperatures. Moreover, the in vitro cell toxicity and the in vivo skin safety and protective effects were also assessed.Results: Formulation showed stable physical properties and antioxidant activity during 180 days of storage. In vitro toxicity was screened in two skin cell lines (fibroblasts and keratinocytes) and any toxicity was reported. The in vivo test carried out showed that, with respect to irritant effects, CSMS formulation can be regarded as safe for topical application and the skin hydratation improved after 30 days of its use. Also, considering the consumer acceptance, more than 90% of volunteers classified it as very pleasant.Conclusions: CSMS formulation is stable and safe for topical use as no adverse and/or side effects were observed during the application period of testing, improving skin protective properties.

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil influences the stability and protective effects of topical formulations

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil (GCO) has been used as an active ingredient in many skin care products, due to its properties as an emollient, improver of skin hydration and absorbent of UVB radiation. However, to obtain a stable, effective and pleasant formulation containing variable amounts of GCO it is necessary to know specific chemical characteristics of the combined ingredients. Thus, this study evaluated rheological behavior, presence of liquid crystals (LCs) and skin protective effects of GCO-containing formulations aiming to correlate these parameters with GCO concentrations by using a principal component analysis (PCA). Formulations containing GCO or not (0–15%) were submitted to physical stability assays by determinations of rheological behavior after 90 days storage, detection of LCs by polarized light microscopy and in vitro determination of the sun protection factor (SPF). In vivo protective effects in mice were evaluated with biophysical techniques and histological analysis. Data were correlated using PCA. Despite the low SPF values, GCO addition to formulations resulted in significant and proportional increases of these values. It is concluded that formulation stability and skin protective properties are influenced by GCO but desirable effects are only possible when GCO is present in high concentrations.

Influence of the mushroom Piptoporus betulinus on human keratinocytes

Various fungi are known for their biological activities in men and thus are used as medicinal mushrooms. One of these, the basidiomycete Piptoporus betulinus (birch polypore), was already used by the ice man (Ötzi), probably as anti-inflammatory agent. Natural compounds and preparations of the fungus sole host genus – Betula species – are known for their activity in skin related disorders and are even discussed for their potency in cancer treatment. Triterpenoid compounds like betulin and betulinic acid are assigned to be responsible for these effects [1]. However, there is little knowledge on the natural compounds of the birch polypore and their potential skin protective properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the activity of extracts of Piptoporus betulinus on a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT).

Lycium barbarum glycoconjugates: effect on human skin and cultured dermal fibroblasts

Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae) glycoconjugates (LbGp) display an interesting array of anti-apoptotic and antioxidant properties, which may be beneficial for human skin. We therefore set out to determine the effects of LbGp in full-thickness human skin, and in dermal fibroblasts. It was found that LbGp decreased the level of MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-1 significantly, but not that of MMP-3 or -13, in the whole human skin system, without compromising the viability of the skin. Consistently, LbGp inhibited skin expansion under mechanical stress, which in this model depends on the activity of MMP-1. We found that one of L. barbarum glycoconjugates, the LbGp5, promoted the survival of human fibroblasts cultured in suboptimal conditions. Furthermore, in the presence of LbGp5, these cultures also contained higher levels of the MMP-1 substrate--collagen type I. Together these results suggest that L. barbarum glycoconjugates in general, and LbGp5 in particular, may have important skin-protective properties.

Outcome of peristomal skin management by long-term use of skin barrier.

Peristomal skin status was retrospectively evaluated in group of patients who routinely used skin barriers as a part of their pouching system. Three hundred forty-four photographs were obtained for 113 patients who used skin-barrier products continuously for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years. Changes in the peristomal skin were evaluated according to severity and three qualitative characteristics: inflammatory changes, pigmentary alterations, and macroscopic evidence of relief from the chronic effects of skin barrier. Of the 344 photographs reviewed, only 7.4% were free from any skin change. The incidence of inflammatory change peaked at 38% before 3 months and varied from 5% to 20% after this riod. The incidence of pigmentary change was 86% at 9 months after operation and 85% to 95% during later periods. Macroscopic evidence of skin relief was observed in 75% to 95% of the photographs across time. This investigation demonstrates that peristomal skin changes among patients who use skin barriers as a routine part of the pouching procedure are dynamic and complex. These products exhibit both skin-protective and skin-irritating properties.

Pharmacy and veterinary medicine

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil (GCO) has been used as an active ingredient in many skin care products, due to its properties as an emollient, improver of skin hydration and absorbent of UVB radiation. However, to obtain a stable, effective and pleasant formulation containing variable amounts of GCO it is necessary to know specific chemical characteristics of the combined ingredients. Thus, this study evaluated rheological behavior, presence of liquid crystals (LCs) and skin protective effects of GCO-containing formulations aiming to correlate these parameters with GCO concentrations by using a principal component analysis (PCA). Formulations containing GCO or not (0–15%) were submitted to physical stability assays by determinations of rheological behavior after 90 days storage, detection of LCs by polarized light microscopy and in vitro determination of the sun protection factor (SPF). In vivo protective effects in mice were evaluated with biophysical techniques and histological analysis. Data were correlated using PCA. Despite the low SPF values, GCO addition to formulations resulted in significant and proportional increases of these values. It is concluded that formulation stability and skin protective properties are influenced by GCO but desirable effects are only possible when GCO is present in high concentrations.